BATHURST 1000 – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 – PRACTICE & TOP 10 SHOOTOUT
Fabian Coulthard & Tony D'Alberto - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Practice 6 – 13th (Fastest Lap: 2m06.4929s - Fabian)
Top 10 Shootout – 6th (Fastest Lap: 2m04.9463s - Fabian)
Scott McLaughlin & Alex Premat - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Practice 6 – 12th (Fastest Lap: 2m06.3977s - Scott)
Qualifying – 1st (Fastest Lap: 2m03.8312s - NEW LAP RECORD - Scott)
Fabian Coulthard & Tony D'Alberto - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Recap: Shootout Day at Bathurst opens with final practice, where both Fabian and Tony spent time turning laps to tune the car's race balance. Runs were done on full tanks & older tyres, along with fuel economy runs and simulations of potential situations that may arise throughout the race. Car 12 was then tuned for the one-lap dash that is the Top 10 Shootout. Fabian provisionally qualified 6th, however a small error at The Cutting on his shootout lap cost a couple of tenths. He set a still very impressive 2m04.9463s lap which sees he and Tony start tomorrow's race from seventh on the grid.
Coulthard Quote: "I made a little mistake in my lap that cost me, but it's not about me, it's about the mega effort that Scott put in to take pole. That lap was amazing, so well done to him. We'll start 7th, we've got a long race ahead of us tomorrow and Tony and I will push hard to get a great result."
D'Alberto Quote: "Watching Scott pull off that lap was incredible, just amazing to see. Fabian did a top job too, and we've got a great starting position for tomorrow's race. With the rain forecast, anything can happen so we'll give it our best shot."
Scott McLaughlin & Alex Premat - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Recap: Scott has been deemed the 'King of Qualifying' throughout 2017, having taken 13 poles up until the start of this weekend. His one-lap pace is renowned, and all eyes were on him as he lined up for this afternoon's Top 10 Shootout. Having provisionally qualified first, he was the final car to head out on the Mount Panorama circuit for his single-lap dash. He was fastest to the first sector, before making a minor error to run wide through McPhillamy Park at the top of the mountain. Despite the error, he went further in front to the second sector before flying down the mountain to record the first ever lap time in the 'threes' in a Supercar around the Bathurst track. He and Alex will start tomorrow's 1000km epic from pole.
McLaughlin Quote: "I dreamed of doing this since I was a kid. It's the best day of my life, and I still can't quite believe it. I knew we could do that, and it's a massive credit to the team that they've given me a car capable of it. We've still got plenty of work ahead of us tomorrow, but what an incredible day. I'll remember this for the rest of my life."
Premat Quote: "What can I say? That was the greatest lap of the Mountain ever, and it was just incredible to watch. Scott is so good in this car, and the team is amazing to work with. We knew that the car was capable of a time like this, but it takes a big effort to make it happen. Well done to Scott, we will try to go well tomorrow."